HC Deb 16 January 1996 vol 269 c568W
Mr. Chris Smith

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the change in social security spending in real terms in each year since 1978–79, including estimates for each of the next three years, giving figures on the same basis as the answer of 7 June 1993,Official Report, column 144. [8501]

Mr. Burt

The information is in the table.

Social Security1 spending from 1978–79 to 1998–99
Expenditure in £ million
Years Cash 1995–96 prices Percentage change in real terms over previous year
1978–79 16,401 49,150 —
1979–80 19,377 49,755 1.23
1980–81 23,483 50,961 2.42
1981–82 28,582 56,555 10.98
1982–83 32,451 59,942 5.99
1983–84 35,159 62.066 3.54
1984–85 39,716 66,755 7.56
1985–86 43.237 68,897 3.21
1986–87 46,611 72,098 4.65
1987–88 48,982 71,936 -0.23
1988–89 49,641 68,331 -5.01
1989–90 52,357 67,365 -1.41
1990–91 56,392 67,171 -0.29
1991–92 65,710 73,672 9.68
1992–93 74,661 80,434 9.18
1993–94 81,684 85,505 6.30
1994–95 84,189 86,504 1.17
1995–96 87,100 87,100 0.69
1996–97 90,102 87,690 0.68
1997–98 93,132 88,429 0.84
1998–99 96,264 89,391 1.09
1Excludes non DSS expenditure on housing and council tax/community charge benefits.

  1. 1. 1994–95 figures are estimated outturn.
  2. 2. Figures from 1995–96 to 1998–99 are planned expenditure.
  3. 3. The real terms decrease over the period 1987–88 to 1990–91 is largely attributable to the fall in unemployment since 1986.
  4. 4. The figures from 1978–79 to 1989–90 are from the 1994 DR and earlier equivalents.
  5. 5. Figures from 1990–91 to 1998–99 are from the 1996–97 FSBR.